Northeast Under Gun for Storm Development as Thermostat is Turned Up

Posted: July 27, 2023 9:30 am

It is going to be a double whammy for much of the Northeast to end the week as a round of severe weather pairs with the ongoing heat wave.

Parts of the region that experienced severe flooding over the last few weeks will be the most at risk of seeing more severe weather, raising the threat of additional flooding events into the weekend. Here is the latest on this forecast.

Heat of Summer Arriving in Explosive Fashion for the Northeast

It has been a unique summer for the Northeast as it relates to weather. The flow of smoke and haze from the Canadian wildfires burning to the north mitigated the typical heat of this time of the year to start the season in June. Persistent rounds of tropical moisture in July worked further to keep the mercury suppressed.

This is all changing as the thermostat is finally being cranked up across this corner of the country. Millions of Americans will be dealing with the hottest temperature readings thus far this season as the work week comes to a close.

For instance, the temperatures could hit the century mark in Baltimore with readings hovering in the upper 90s across the major metropolitan areas of New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

It will be the first official heat wave of the season for many communities with the forecast calling for temperatures to hit the 90-degree mark for three days in a row across many areas. Daily high records may fall in places such as New York City when the heat peaks on Friday.

The record for this date in history is 97 degrees while the average reading in late July for the Big Apple lands in the mid 80s.

While it will not be quite as hot farther to the north in Boston, Bean Town will still likely see temperatures in the low 90s on both Thursday and Friday. The historical average for Boston during the last week of July is 82 degrees.

Forecasters are warning that real feel readings will trend much higher up and down the East Coast thanks to the brilliant sunshine and the humidity levels. Be sure to take this into account if planning outdoor activities.

Threat of Thunderstorms on Both Ends of Peak of Heat

The threat of thunderstorms will be an issue on both ends of the peak of the heat across the Northeast. A moderate risk of severe weather is in store for much of upstate New York and into the central and western portions of New England on Thursday.

The storms will fire up as the heat builds, bringing potential impacts such as strong winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes.

You will also find the risk of sporadic storms in areas as far south as Maryland and Delaware and to the east through the coastal areas of New York and New England. It should be noted that these storms will be spotty in nature. However, the chance of flooding cannot be discounted because so much of the ground in this region is already saturated due to the rainy weather of the last few weeks.

Friday’s storm train will back off as the mercury continues to rise, however, another chance of widespread severe weather will take root over the weekend as a cold front moves to the south from Canada. Residents can expect that storms will develop along the leading edge of this front as the temperatures begin to drop throughout the Northeast and beyond.

Quickly changing weather conditions could be a deterrent from outdoor activities this weekend. These storm cells are expected to bring frequent lightning strikes, heavy rain, and high winds. The potential impact zone of Saturday’s severe weather will expand from the Ohio Valley and down into the central Appalachians and the northern fringe of the mid-Atlantic.

To the north, storms could travel as far as southern New England. By Sunday, the line of storms will move farther south, encompassing all of the mid-Atlantic and the Appalachians.

While the threat will linger throughout the weekend, the greatest risk will be during the afternoon and early evening hours.

Cooler Air on the Horizon

The dog days of summer will exit as quickly as they arrived in the Northeast. The cold front from Canada will expand over the Northeast and beyond to start the new week. The front will also usher in less humid conditions, bringing down the real feel readings.

The temperature will fall by 15 degrees throughout the region, translating to highs in the 70s for a large part of the inland communities. The mid-Atlantic coast will feel downright cool for the end of July with highs topping out in the mid 80s.

The only downside about this forecast is that the winds may mark a return of the smoke and haze from Canada heading into the new week. Keep an eye on the air quality levels in your area if you are susceptible to these hazardous conditions.

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